Who Invented Golf Tees? The History Behind the Peg (2026)

Who invented golf tees? The short answer is that no single person can be credited with the golf tee as we know it today. Early golfers propped balls up with sand, mounds of dirt and even small heaps of wet grass, and the modern wooden peg grew out of those habits over several decades. What you will learn here is how the tee developed, the names most often linked to it, and why the history matters when you are choosing a tee for a junior golfer who is just starting to hit off the ground.

The Short Answer: A Gradual Invention, Not a Single Inventor

Golf tees did not arrive in one flash of invention. Historians generally agree that the idea of elevating the ball developed slowly across the late 1800s and early 1900s, as golfers tried to get more distance and consistency off the tee box. The item most people picture, a small wooden or plastic peg with a cup on top, emerged as a practical solution that many people refined.

The name most often tied to the modern tee is Dr. Bert Heffernan of Florida, who is widely credited with patenting a wooden tee in the 1920s. Accounts differ on the exact year and details, so treat the specific date as something to verify in patent records if you need it for a school project or article. Even so, the general story is consistent: a simple wooden peg became the standard, and it has changed very little in principle since.

How Golfers Teed Up Before Tees Existed

Before manufactured tees, players did whatever worked on the course. Common approaches included:

• Building a small pile of sand or dirt and placing the ball on top.
• Using a tuft of grass or a mound of damp turf.
• Carrying a handful of wet sand in a pouch or pocket for quick use.
• Simply teeing the ball on bare ground, which often led to dirty club faces and inconsistent contact.

These methods worked poorly in wet weather and made it hard to repeat the same ball height. That inconsistency is part of why a standardized peg caught on. Once golfers could carry a few pegs in a pocket and set them at the same height every time, their game became more predictable.

Key Milestones in Tee Development

The tee’s evolution can be understood through a few broad phases. Dates are approximate and reflect commonly cited histories rather than verified records for every step.

Period	Development	Why It Mattered
Late 1800s	Sand, dirt and grass mounds used for teeing	Showed the need for a consistent ball height
Early 1900s	Improvised pegs and rubber or wooden alternatives tried by players	Pushed interest in a reusable, portable solution
1920s	Wooden tee associated with Dr. Bert Heffernan	Gave golfers a standard peg they could carry and reuse
Later 1900s onward	Plastic and composite tees, plus varied lengths and cup designs	Improved durability and allowed height tailored to each club

Why Tee Height and Size Still Matter Today

The original goal of the tee, a consistent and repeatable ball height, still drives how tees are chosen today. Equipment guidance commonly suggests that the ball’s position relative to the ground changes with the club, so tee length and cup height are not one-size-fits-all decisions.

Tee Length Guidelines by Club

1. Driver: Many instructors recommend a longer tee so that roughly half of the ball sits above the top of the driver face at address.
2. Fairway woods and hybrids: Shorter tees are common, often with the ball set a bit lower than with a driver.
3. Irons: Tees are generally not used for most iron shots off the fairway, though some golfers tee up for specific lies.

Junior golfers often benefit from a clear rule they can remember. A parent or coach can mark a tee height on a practice mat or on the child’s own peg so the setup stays consistent from session to session.

Choosing Tees for a Growing Junior

Tees come in several lengths, commonly described as 2.75 inches, 3.25 inches and similar. Younger players swinging a shorter driver may not need the longest tee, while a junior who has grown into a longer club may need a bit more height. Watch the ball flight and contact before buying a large supply, since a tee that sits too high or too low can cause inconsistent strikes.

Practical Checklist for Teeing Up Consistently

• Select a tee length that matches the club being used.
• Push the tee into firm ground so it does not wobble.
• Set the ball so the logo or alignment mark lines up with the target.
• Check that about half the ball sits above the crown of the driver at address.
• Keep spare tees in a pocket or bag pocket so you are never improvising with dirt again.

Common Mistakes

• Using one tee length for every club. Different clubs need different heights.
• Pushing the tee in too shallow, which lets it tip or fall during the takeaway.
• Teeing too high with irons or too low with a driver, which often leads to poor contact.
• Letting tees collect in the bag until they are bent or split. Replace damaged pegs.
• Ignoring surface conditions. Soft or wet ground may require pushing the tee deeper for stability.

Tips for Junior Golfers and Parents

Teach young players to treat the tee as part of the setup routine, not an afterthought. Have them place the tee, check the ball height, and then take a practice swing that matches the planned shot. Over time, the routine becomes automatic and frees up attention for the swing itself. When a junior outgrows a set of tees or switches to a longer driver, revisit the height together rather than assuming the old setting still works.

Recommended gear

A few supplies can make consistent teeing easier for junior players:

• Wooden golf tees in mixed lengths: A mixed pack lets the player use a longer peg for the driver and a shorter one for fairway woods. View on Amazon
• Plastic golf tees with reduced friction: Designed to slide into turf with less resistance and to reduce drag on the ball, these suit players who hit off firmer ground. View on Amazon
• Golf tee holder or pouch: Keeps a small supply of tees accessible on the bag or belt so players can grab one quickly. View on Amazon

Related reading

If you are narrowing down which tee length suits your child’s driver, the guide 8 Best Golf Tees for Driver Compared for Junior Golfers (2026) compares options by height and feel. For practice at home, Golf Practice Mat and Net: A Parent's Guide to Choosing the Right Setup explains how to build a consistent teeing area. Parents who practice on turf will also find 7 Best Golf Tees for Mats: Expert Picks for Junior Golfers (2026) useful, and 7 Best 2.75 Inch Golf Tees for Junior Golfers (2026) covers one of the most common lengths for younger players. Finally, Golf Practice Net Size: How to Choose the Right Dimensions for Your Junior can help you set up a range where those tee habits get regular use.

FAQ

Who invented the golf tee?

The modern wooden golf tee is most often credited to Dr. Bert Heffernan, who is associated with a patent in the 1920s. The idea evolved over many years, so no single inventor is considered the sole creator of the concept.

What did golfers use before tees?

Golfers used small piles of sand or dirt, mounds of turf or damp grass, and sometimes simply placed the ball on bare ground. These methods were inconsistent, especially in wet conditions.

Why were wooden tees better than sand?

Wooden tees could be carried, reused and set at a consistent height. Sand mounds crumbled, washed away or varied from one shot to the next.

When did plastic tees become common?

Plastic and composite tees became widely used in the decades after wooden pegs became standard. They offered greater durability and design options, such as reduced friction and varied cup shapes.

How long should a golf tee be for a driver?

Many instructors suggest a longer tee so that about half the ball sits above the top of the driver face at address. Exact length depends on the player’s height, swing and equipment, so testing a few options is sensible.

Do golf tees affect distance?

Tee height can influence launch conditions and contact quality, which affects distance. Consistency matters more than any single height, so players should find a setting that produces solid, repeatable strikes.

Should a junior golfer always use a tee?

Not always. Tees are most common off the driver on the tee box. Many fairway and iron shots are played from the ground. A coach can help decide when teeing up makes sense for a given lie and club.

Conclusion

The golf tee grew from a long string of improvised solutions into the simple wooden or plastic peg golfers use today, with Dr. Bert Heffernan often credited for the wooden version. Understanding that history helps explain why tee height and consistency still matter so much. For junior golfers and their parents, choosing the right length and building a repeatable teeing routine can make practice more productive from the first swing.

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